Our blog friend, Andrew Budek-Schmeisser wrote in to suggest a blog post about re-reading Here’s what he wrote:.
May I suggest that a blog post might deal with re-reading books? In my straitened and dread circumstance, I am finding grace in re-visiting the works that helped define the paradigm by which I now live; not so much for the comfort of the familiar, but for the understanding of that which yet gives me hope and purpose. They help set a bulwark against the storm which would overwhelm me, and drown my soul; I regret passing on the new, but in lashing my heart to the existing mast, I may still ride out the gale, at least until I find a final clarity.
Since I am the most avid re-reader in our group I asked to address the topic. Thanks, Andrew.
I started rereading when I first became a bibliophile. My friend, Diane, and I would plan a weekend synchronized re-read. If we had enough Kleenex, we would choose Just David. Or if it were to be gothic and spooky, Secret Garden. In the middle of the read, we might grab the nearest princess phone and talk it all over again together. I had a copy of Fifty Famous Fairy Stories I must have re-read more than a dozen times. Who knew it would play such an important part in my first career.
But there are many reasons for re-reading. Let me just outline a few:
Books that Define our Lives— It goes without saying that many of have re-read the Bible, our love letter from God. It’s like Andrew suggested, books are the touchstones of our lives. I can think of so many books that defined different stages of my life. Those are worth re-reading just to use as a yardstick.
Books that Shaped our Thoughts— I have several shelves of these and I revisit them every so often, like a refresher course. C. S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Madeleine L’Engle (Walking on Water), George MacDonald. Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gifts from the Sea. We change as we grow, so it makes sense to re-read them in each new phase of life. We mine entirely new insights. Our agent staff meetings usually end with a book discussion. The book we are reading now, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, is one I know I’ll re-read (and re-listen to) many times.
Old Friends— My mother once told me the best thing about getting old was that all her favorite books were new again. She spent many a day re-reading Gene Stratton Porter, Janette Oke, and Grace Livingstone Hill. I probably learned my re-reading habit from her. Again, I go to Andrew’s words, “the comfort of the familiar.”
Key Reference Books— I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read Elements of Style by Strunk and White, since I got my first copy in college. I used to say that I needed to read that book, William Zinsser’s On Writing Well, and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers every single year. And I did for many years. I think it’s time again. I also treasure shelves filled with reference books on historical clothing, sewing and design. These are well, well-worn. I’m betting each on of you have reference books you refer to all the time.
Favorite Authors— Just as television fans binge-watch old favorite series (my daughters practically have Golden Girls memorized), I can’t imagine not re-reading all of Jane Austen’s books, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. . . nothing more satisfying for a fall Saturday. Surely every avid reader can name books they have re-read.
Poetry—I have favorite poets, long out of vogue, like James Whitcomb Riley whose vernacular poems are like candy to me. I can’t imagine not being able to dip in again and again. And, of course the classics like Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manly Hopkins, William Blake, etc. These are meant to be enjoyed over and over, maybe even memorized.
Children’s Books— And I hope you’ve taken time to re-read the books you loved as a child. Nothing connects you to the entire arc of your life like savoring the books you first read years and years ago. I’ve said it so many times but children’s books are often among the finest books ever written. Think: The Chronicles of Narnia, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Water Babies, The Giving Tree. . . I could go on forever.
How about you? Do you re-read? Any books in particular? Why do you choose to reread rather than pick up a fresh book?
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I re-read books for the same reasons I re-watch old television shows/movies – because I want to read something “good” versus something “new”. That sounds harsh, and it is. Too many authors today, even in the genres I love, seem to be hell-bent on preaching; do not seem to understand the difference between “inclusive” and “token”; do not really understand what a “strong women” is; think that “character-focused” means “angst-filled”. And frankly, I believe a great deal of that is because too many writers are hearing the words of advice without understanding those words. Maybe this feeling of dissatisfaction on my part comes from being a writer, or maybe it comes from decades of constant reading (I remember actually feeling anxious if I didn’t have a book close at hand). I get tired of picking up a new book, eager to delve into a compelling story, and finding myself growing more and more frustrated as story is lost in the sad attempts to “capture today’s audience”. Those books used to be the exception, and I would find more “new” authors to add to my list of “find their next one”. Now I’m finding more authors to add to my list of “don’t bother”.
One re-read for me is the full set of The Chronicles of Narnia. I read them for the first time in college, read them to my children, and expect to read them to my grandchildren when they are older.
Wonderfu stories!
Same here, Damon. I read the full set to my kids. As soon as he was able, my youngest reread all of them for himself. When “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was assigned in his middle school language arts class, I suggested his teacher assign him something he hadn’t read before. “Oh, no,” she said, “He sees things in the story the other students miss. His insights help the whole class.” Yay for the wisdom of rereading!
Oh the Witch of Blackbird pond! I was just thinking one the other day. I read that several times as a child. I usually read The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers every few years and have re-read the books by Tessa Afshar and Michelle Stimpson a few times. But this is inspiring me to hunt for some of the other books I read as a girl and read them with my oldest daughter.
1st through 3rd grade, I lived in a remote area. My mother drove us to the nearest public library once every two weeks, where I checked out seven books, the maximum the library allowed. I reread my seven precious books many times until it was time for the next library run. When we later moved to a town with its own library, I discovered–much to my childish surprise–that most folks read a book only once. Even now, if I enjoy a book, I reread my favorite sections. Old habits . . .
Wendy, you expressed this so well, and I’m truly honoured that I had the opportunity to contribute the thought!
And now, on with the sonnetry.
Old friends around me line the shelves,
well-loved familiar faces,
but hidden in their printed selves
there lie bright newborn graces.
Surely it is I have changed,
time can’t alter printed pages!
But might words have been re-arranged
by impish elven sages
who use an ancient alchemy
to alter text and meaning,
for they have been watching me
and know what I am needing
in reaching, for another look
at an assumedly familiar book?
Thank you, Andrew, for suggesting this topic. As usual, I love your sonnet. Hang in there, my friend. I keep praying for grace and surcease of pain. Grace, peace, and love, my brother.
Judith, thank you for your kind words, and especially your prayers.
They’re needed. The darkness gathers, but I look for the Light.
Wendy, thank you for an insightful post. You touched on all the reasons I re-read a book. And thank you for acknowledging our Andrew’s contribution.
My re-reads include three authors. I study the core of their voice, because they put my own heart in the writing mood, in the tender place, that I desire.
I love to read books for kids (I’m still a kid on the inside) and, since our library closed months ago due to covid, I’ve been re-reading the middle-grade books on my own bookcases. I just measured the shelves and, so far, I’ve read about 17 feet of those books and only have about four feet of them left. If the quarantine isn’t over soon I’ll have to start reading the books for grown-ups in all the other bookcases, but I’m really a kid on the inside.
Formerly as an English teacher, I had to reread classics with my students annually—or at least portions. I don’t have room on my shelves at home for them, but they are still in my classroom in our little high school. But I could visit them if I wanted, because—guess what—my oldest, Rebekah, now teaches English 11,12, and the AP courses. The set I keep at home and reread is Jan Karon’s Mitford series, which I love. Her Mitford characters truly are like folks in Sierra County’s Loyalton. Years ago I found a large print, hard bound set for $2 each. Such a score!
I read favorite children’s books out loud to my sons, but also for myself. I love the Inkheart trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the How to Train Your Dragon books especially. I read Pride and Prejudice probably every year, it never get’s old. There are also romances that were milestone books, Lori Wick’s books and Bodie and Brock Thoene books were some of the first Christian romances I was allowed to read, so I come back to these again and again. The O’Malley Books by Dee Henderson were the first books my husband got for me on the very first “Reading Day” he gave me when we finally realized that my soul was not refreshed by going out with friends to a movie (an almost impossible venture with a baby, 2-year-old, and 4-year-old) but by a day by myself (also an almost impossible task) with a new book, snacks, and quiet. He got me these books and borrowed some others from a friend and supplied me with a box of snacks. Then, because I was nursing our youngest, he made a barricade of pillows to hide me in a corner of the house so that I could be alone without actually leaving. He planned games and food for the boys for all day, bringing me the baby when it was time to nurse and then taking him for more hours of fun. Those first books represent his love and understanding of who I was and what I needed, something that had previously baffled both of us. Rereading is so soothing to the soul. I’m so glad you posted on this!
For several years in the 1990s I re-read Herman Wouk’s “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” every year, though haven’t re-read them now for over 10 years. Mitchener’s “Centennial” was another favorite re-read, as was Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October”. I’ve let my re-reading of all of them lapse while trying to knock down the 4,000 book backlog in our house. One I will re-read soon is C.L. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters”.